Lucas: Liverpool midfielder grateful for support during injury lay-off

The Brazilian, who also missed a large part of last season with a knee problem, is set to return to first-team action after a three-month lay-off in Saturday's home game against Southampton.

He told the club's official website: "Ever since my first injury, the fans have been very important to me.

"When you don't play, you think that people might forget about you but I think it has been completely the opposite.

"People send me nice messages and they say that they really miss me. So this has given me the confidence to come back.

"The players, on a daily basis, have really supported me. I remember when Luis scored and he had a message for me on his shirt. These are the small things that really mean a lot and they keep you going. Now it's the time for me to repay that and help them.

"Brendan Rodgers has been very good to me since my first day. When he arrived I was just recovering from the knee injury, so he gave me a lot of confidence and was always very clear about his plans for me.

"He has tried to keep me very calm and not tried to rush me, in terms of my rehabilitation."

ood grief. Someone guessed that the form English player at the moment might be in his national side with some other players? And that's espionage? Now if they discovered that Emile Heskey was going to be in the starting line up.... at right back.... THAT would be espionage. Give it a rest Roy.